Delayed probe into ‘savage attack’ by bouncers

A 17-year old who alleges he was “savagely beaten and choked” by five bouncers at a Paceville nightclub more than two weeks ago was called in for police questioning yesterday, hours after the case was made public in a Sunday newspaper.

The victim, who has asked to remain anonymous, said he was having a drink with his girlfriend and some friends at Shadow Lounge on October 14 when he was violently set upon by the bouncers.

“A man had just forcefully bumped into me and my girlfriend. As he turned, I told him, calmly, to take it easy. My friends later told me that he was collecting empty glasses off tables. Moments later, five bouncers appeared and started hitting me,” he said.

The victim described how the bouncers repeatedly punched the side of his head and kneed him in the chest. They also grabbed him by the throat, choking him and leaving marks along his neck.

He said he immediately informed police on the Paceville beat, who went to speak to the bouncers in question. The victim’s father subsequently took him to St James’ Hospital for treatment and filed a police report at St Julians police station.

Yet the two heard nothing from the police until yesterday morning, after Sunday newspaper It-Torċa published a letter written by the boy’s uncle Michael Ellul complaining about the incident.

Police called the victim in for questioning twice yesterday. During the morning session, he was asked to describe his version of events. Accompanied by his girlfriend and father, he returned to St Julians police station in the afternoon and was asked whether he would be able to identify the bouncers responsible.

The family have spoken to their lawyers and plan on opening a civil lawsuit against the club and bouncers involved. They have not spoken to anyone from the club since the incident.

“The police have yet to press any charges. I expected to hear from them a few days after the attack but they didn’t get in touch until this morning,” the father said yesterday.

The medical report seen by The Times refers to “several bruises and hematomas” across the right forehead, behind the right ear, on the left forehead, on the victim’s sternum and along his left flank. Photos taken during the medical examination also reveal marks across the victim’s neck, where the teenager says bouncers choked him.

When contacted, Shadow Lounge owner Hugo Chetcuti said that he had only been informed of the case yesterday morning following police enquiries but contested the teenager’s explanation.

“I’ve spoken to staff working that night. There was absolutely no bouncer involved. The argument was between the teenager and a club helper who was clearing tables,” Mr Chetcuti said.

“The story did not happen the way they’re picturing it. When the teenager started fighting with the helper, bouncers intervened.”

He said they “locked” the teen and took him off the premises, “as they are entitled to do”.

He was unequivocal in his condemnation of excessive use of force by bouncers.

“I have grandchildren myself. Bouncers are not boxers. Anyone who errs should and will be punished,” he said. “I’m all for increasing penalties for those who indulge in violent behaviour. It would be better if they cracked down on such things rather than infringements of time curfews.”

The victim’s father dismissed Mr Chetcuti’s version of events. “All Mr Chetcuti has to do is speak to the police sergeant on duty that night,” he said. “It was the bouncers who beat my son. He can check his CCTV cameras.”

Mr Chetcuti confirmed that his various Paceville establishments employ a coterie of approximately 10 bouncers on any given weekend night. The bouncers are subcontracted from Kerber Security, a private security company. Attempts at contacting an official from Kerber security were unsuccessful.

Officers at St Julians police station confirmed that the case was being investigated but referred all other questions to the Police Community and Media Relations Unit. Questions to the CMRU remained unanswered at the time of writing.

The manner in which police investigations were only kick-started once the case made newspaper headlines mirrors police behaviour of the same police station in the case of Rachel Ginty and Ben Ford, two British expatriates who earlier this month were cleared of charges of breaching the peace.

Earlier this year, Ms Ginty and Mr Ford insisted that St Julians police arrest a Maltese man they alleged was beating his girlfriend. Frustrated by police inaction, they turned to The Times, which published the story last May.

Two days after publication, Ms Ginty, Mr Ford and another friend of theirs were called to the St Julians police station for questioning. They were eventually charged themselves for breaching the peace but were acquitted. The magistrate who presided over the case ruled that the two whistleblowers were justified in insisting, loudly, that the police arrest a man who, they claimed, had assaulted them and their friend in Paceville five months ago.

The fresh case of this 17-year-old is the latest in a long series of allegations of excessive use of force by nightclub bouncers. In the most notorious case, a Sudanese man was beaten to death by a Paceville bouncer in 2009.

New regulations for bar and club bouncers were originally due to come into effect on October 1 but were postponed for four months in order to give establishments more time to adapt.

The regulations, which will now come into effect on January 31, will require bouncers to have served for at least five years in the police, armed forces, prison services or as a private guard.

They also stipulate that the Police Commissioner may require any applicant for a licence to attend a specialised training course, although as of September there were no licensed security companies in a position to run such courses.